Shipping container



May 26, 1970 I H. J. CARROLL 3,

SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Nov. 19, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Hazel:J Carroll 0 BY I 959,5 wwway TTOQNEYS H. J. CARROLL SHIPPING CONTAINERMay 26, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 19, 1968 INVENT OR Haze JCarm/Z M/ 1147 AT Tom/5 vs United States Patent US. Cl. 229-23 6 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible shipping container comprising awooden pallet, a single sheet of corrugated cardboard material defininga base secured to the pallet and a pair of end walls pivotable relativeto the base between a collapsed position, where the walls are at leastpartially in overlapping relationship with one another and parallel tothe base, and a container position, where the walls are in an uprightposition extending upwardly from the base. A post with a slot thereinextends along each lateral edge of each end wall and a pair ofindependent side walls are disposed in the slots of oppositely facingposts in the container position to form a container.

The instant invention relates to a collapsible, palletized container.

Containers of this type include a box-like container secured to ordisposed upon a pallet of the type which is moved about by a forklifttruck or the like. Various embodiments of these containers are wellknown in the prior art.

One such container includes a pallet which is divided into two halvesand wherein each half of the pallet may be swung to a position wherethey are parallel with one another. Thereafter, these pallet halves maybe moved longitudinally of one another whereby the walls of thecontainer, when viewed in cross section, form a collapsing parallelogramwith the walls finally moved to the position where they are completelycollapsed. Such a container, when collapsed, must be stored in an areawhich is larger than the base or pallet of the container. Also, thecontainer has an unusual shape when collapsed, thus requiring unusualstorage facilities.

Another typical prior art container is one wherein all of the walls andthe top may be completely disconnected from the base or pallet and thendisposed or stacked in parallel relationship over the base or pallet.

None of the prior art containers which utilize a pallet are constructedin such a manner so that at least some of the side walls are pivotallyconnected to the base or pallet so as to be moved between a containerposition and a collapsed position where the walls are disposed in atleast partially overlapping relationship with one another and parallelto the base or pallet. Such a feature is very desirable because it isfrequently necessary to ship an empty container between remote points sothat the container may be refilled with material and shipped. Themovement of the container between the collapsed and the containerposition should be as simple as possible and it is desirable that theconstruction of the container be such that as many of the components aspossible are connected together during both positions to preventaccidental loss or misplacement of any of the components.

Accordingly, it is an object and feature of this invention to provideand improved collapsible shipping container where at least a portion ofthe wall means is pivotally connected to the support means or pallet formovement between an upright container position and a collapsed position.

In correlation with the foregoing object and feature,

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it is another object and feature to provide such an improved collapsibleshipping container including a pair of oppositely facing end wallspivotally connected to a support means for movement between thecontainer position and the collapsed position with a pair of independentside walls disposed in retaining means along each lateral edge of theend walls when the container is in the container position.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will bereadily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by referenceto the following detailed description when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the pallet and the sheet ofmaterial forming the base and end walls of a preferred embodiment of theinstant invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the basesecured to the pallet;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the end walls in the collapsedposition;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view disclosing the end walls in the uprightcontainer position with one side wall being inserted between oppositelyfacing end walls;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 and showing the side wallin position between the oppositely end walls; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the container in the containerposition with all components assembled together.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, a collapsible shippingcontainer constructed in accordance with the instant invention isgenerally shown at 10 in FIG. 6.

The shipping container includes a support means generally shown at 12which defines a generally planar area of support and includes the base13. There is also included wall means comprising the end walls 14 and 16and the side walls 18 and 20. The walls extend from the support means 12and define the container with the support means 12 when in the containerposition. It will be understood, that the end walls 14 and 16 and theside walls 18 and 20 are referred to as such merely for the purposes ofdescription and not by way of limitation and it will be understood thatthe relationship and the relative sizes thereof may vary widely. Aportion of the wall means, and more specifically, the end walls 14 and16, are pivotally connected to the base 13 of the support means 12 formovement between an upright container position extending from thesupport means and a collapsed position extending in generally paralleland overlapping relationship to the base 13 of the support means 12. Theupright container position is illustrated in FIG. 4 and the collapsedposition is illustrated in FIG. 3.

End walls 14 and 16 have lateral edges 22 and are pivotally connected tothe base 13 of the support means 12 for movement between the containerposition, illustrated in FIG. 4, and the collapsed position illustratedin FIG. 3. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the' end walls 14 and 16 atleast partially overlap one another and are spaced one above the otherin the collapsed position.

There is also included retaining means comprising a post 24 disposedalong each lateral edge of each end wall so as to face the opposite endwall in the container position for receiving and retaining the sidewalls 18 and 20 in position between oppositely facing posts 24. Eachpost 24 has a slot therein which faces the post on the oppositely facingend wall. Each side wall 18 and 20 is defined by an independent sheet ofmaterial having side edges which are disposed in the slots in the posts24 when in the container position.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, each side wall has a bottom edgewith a flap 26 extending therefrom so that the flap 26 extends over thebase 13 when in the container position as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The support means 12 includes a pallet comprising a plurality of spacedparallel wooden members 28 and a plurality of blocks 30 attached to thewooden members 28. The base 13 is secured to the wooden members 28 bynails 32, staples, glue, or the like.

One integral sheet of material extends over the pallet to define thebase 13 and to also define the end walls 14 and 16. This sheet ofmaterial and the sheets defining the side walls 18 and 20 are preferablymade of multilayered corrugated cardboard.

There is included a pair of first folds 34, one of which is between eachend wall and base 13 for pivotally connecting the end walls 14 and 16 tothe base 13. There is a second fold 36 adjacent the first end wall 14and which is parallel to the first fold 34 which connects the first endwall 14 to the base 13. The second fold 36 is spaced from that firsttold 34 at least a distance which is equal to the distance that theposts 24 extend outwardly from the first end wall 14. Thus, the firstend wall 14 may be folded to the collapsed position as indicated in FIG.3. There is a third fold 38 which is adjacent the second end wall 16 andparallel to the fold 34 connecting the second end wall 16 to the base13. The third fold 38 is spaced from the fold 34 adjacent thereto atleast a distance equal to the sum of the distances the posts 24 extendoutwardly from both end walls 14 and 16 plus the thickness of the firstend wall 14, all of which is best illustrated in FIG. 3. Such aconstruction enables the end walls 14 and 16 to remain attached to thebase 13 and to be folded into a very compact, collapsed position.

There is also included strengthening means comprising the wire-likemembers 40 coacting with the walls in the container position formaintaining the walls in the container position, as illustrated in FIG.6. The wire-like members 40 interconnect oppositely facing posts 24 inthe container position for maintaining the walls in the containerposition. More specifically, a pair of wire-like members are disposed incrossed relationship and interconnect each pair of oppositely facingposts as illustrated in FIG. 6. The wire-like member 40 have loops 42 ateach end thereof and nails 44, hooks, screws or the like extend from theposts for receiving the loops 42.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner and it is tobe understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to bein the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A collapsible shipping container comprising; a pallet suitable forlifting the container with a fork lift truck or the like, an integralsheet of material attached to and extending over said pallet to define abase over said pallet and end walls extending from opposite extremitiesthereof, said end walls having lateral edges, a pair of side walls, apost secured to and extending along each lateral edge of each end wall,a first fold between each end wall and said base for pivotallyconnecting said end walls to said base so that said end walls may bepivoted to and from a container position wherein they are opposite toone another, a second fold adjacent a first of said end walls, saidsecond fold being parallel to the first fold connecting said first endwall to said base and spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal tothe distance said posts extend from said first end wall for allowingsaid first end wall to be pivoted to a collapsed position overlying saidbase with the portion between said first and second folds thereofextending upwardly from said base and adjacent the ends of the postssecured to said first end wall, a third fold adjacent the second of saidend walls, said third fold being parallel to the first fold connectingsaid second end wall to said base and spaced therefrom a distancesubstantially equal to the sum of the distances said posts extend fromboth of said end walls plus the thickness of said first end wall forallowing said second end wall to be pivoted to a collapsed positionoverlying said first end wall with the portion between the first andthird folds thereof extending upwardly from said base and adjacent theends of the posts secured to said second end wall, each of said postshaving a slot therein which face the post on the oppositely facing endwall when in said container position, said side walls being defined byrespectively independent sheets of material having side edges disposedin said slots when in the container position, posts strengthening meanscoacting With said posts in said container position for maintaining saidwalls in said container position.

2. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein each side wall has abottom edge with a flap extending therefrom so that said flap extendsover said base.

3. A container as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sheet of materialdefining said base and said end walls and the material defining saidside walls are corrugated cardboard.

4. A container as set forth in claim 3 wherein said strengthening meanscomprises a pair of wire-like members disposed in crossed relationshipand interconnecting each pair of oppositely facing posts.

5. A container as set forth in claim 4 wherein said support meansincludes a pallet.

I 6. A container as set forth in claim 5 wherein said pallet comprises aplurality of spaced parallel wooden members to which said base issecured and a plurality of blocks attached to said wooden members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 945,383 l/1910 Fassnacht.2,190,199 2/1940 Stivers. 2,361,937 11/1944 Gondert. 2,675,936 4/ 1954Ridge.

FOREIGN PATENTS 240,646 10/1925 Great Britain.

414,787 8/ 1934 Great Britain.

RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 217-15

